Good Friday

Good Friday

We’re letting you see Good Friday early, so you can be prepared to observe what we’re asking of you.

“Were you there, when they crucified my Lord?”

The haunting sounds of this old spiritual tell you all you need to know about Good Friday. This is the day of Jesus’ crucifixion and death. Jesus was nailed and hung on a cross and left for dead with common criminals on either side of him. There is no Mass celebrated on Good Friday. The Blessed Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle and moved to an alternate location in the church.

The day is marked by an interactive reading of the Passion narrative. The congregation usually reads the lines in the story of the shouting mob who called for Jesus to be put to death. This reminds us that we are all complicit in Jesus’ death — it is our sins that have crucified Jesus. God offers himself as a ransom for all.

The cross is also venerated on this day, meaning parishioners come forth and kiss or touch the cross as a sign of both respect and a willingness on our part to accept the cross as the only means to resurrection.

Good Friday marks the crucifixion and death of Jesus and is the most solemn day of the year for Christians. Throughout the past 40 days we’ve been encouraging each other to continue practicing the ancient spiritual disciplines of Lent — fasting, prayer and almsgiving — in both big and small ways that challenge us in our daily lives. For this solemn day we ask you to try the biggest spiritual challenge of all, by fasting from all food and all electronic media for the day except for what’s absolutely required. (NOTE: if you have health issues that have nutritional implications or work obligations that can’t be avoided, find a way to fast safely within your limitations! DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER!)

Fast from all food and all electronic media for the day except for what’s absolutely required. (NOTE: if you have health issues that have nutritional implications or work obligations that can’t be avoided, find a way to fast safely within your limitations! DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER!)

Give all the money you saved from not eating (at least $20) to your FastPrayGive Bowl, and use the time you would have spent on electronic media to do good works, e.g., volunteering. (Your FastPrayGive Bowl is a container you’ve set aside to hold the money saved from various fasting challenges, to be used for whatever charity you choose at the end of Lent.)